Raceweekends Blog

05.06.2012 / Raceweekends

Silverstone | A Fantastic Race Weekend

Share

Under a typical british weather, Marc A. Hayek and Peter Kox realised a fantastic performance during the second stop of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Silverstone (UK). After an epic 3 hours long race, the team ended on top of the podium in the PRO-AM class, and fourth overall against a host of professional driver pairings in a field featuring 53 cars.

Starting on 7th position, the two pilots showed great racing skills by overtaking one by one all their opponents, Marc A. Hayek even overtook a professional driver in the ultimate laps. Heavy rain throughout the day and during the race made driving very challenging. Peter Kox managed to navigate around the 5.14km course which resembled a skating ring given the amount of rain that soaked the track surface.

The famous N°24 in action during one of the few dry laps of the weekend

Snapshots of a crucial moment: the pit stop

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP600+ at the end of the race looked more like a Rally car

Marc A. Hayek, driving the final stint in the three-hour race, completed a daring overtaking move to secure first place in the PRO-AM class at the finish. Holding down fifth place overall in the closing laps, Marc A. Hayek already had the PRO-AM class won, but nonetheless went by a PRO class rival in a BMW Z4 at the outside of Brooklands corner. To complete the move on the wettest line of the circuit was a tremendous achievement.

“My car was handling well and I had a lot of fun. In the wet, there can be as much grip off line as on, so I decided to go for it,” he revealed.

His co-driver Peter Kox praised Marc A. Hayek for his brilliant performance but admitted that he was “holding his breath” as he made the late charge for fourth place overall.

“Marc obviously has a very busy other life away from the track. He has not done a lot of running so his performance today was impressive. It was the perfect result for the team.”

Watch this exciting highlight

The successfull team showing great satisfaction after a grueling race

Marc A. Hayek and Peter Kox celebrating their victory on the podium

Besides this great result, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo arrived in Silverstone for rounds three and four of the 2012 European series. Wet conditions failed to damp the spirits of the Pro Am and Am competitors, with more than half the 17-strong grid challenging within the Am category of the gentleman driver series. With the Formula One technical guru, Adrian Newey, as driver of the Lamborghini 1, the Super Trofeo offered the public exciting races. Shortly after this experience, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull Racing Team Formula 1 sat together with Alain Delamuraz, Blancpain Vice President and Head of Marketing, Maurizio Reggiani, Research & Development Director Automobili Lamborghini and Alberto Sabbatini, Autosprint magazine, for an interesting discussion about the existing paralells between motorsport and watchmaking.